JOHN Carver says Jonas Gutierrez could yet earn a new deal at Newcastle United, according to John Carver.

Gutierrez is one of a clutch of players, including Ryan Taylor, whose contracts expire in the summer.

Everybody’s playing for their future. There have been no discussons (about contracts). The discussions have been about the need to bring in players – we know that.

John Carver

Head coach Carver says NO decisions have been made on their futures.

Gutierrez made his first start since beating cancer last weekend when he lined up in the Wear-Tyne derby.

And the 31-year-old – who hopes to start against Liverpool at Anfield on Monday night – was one of the few players to emerge from the club’s fifth successive defeat to Sunderland with any credit.

Gutierrez has a clause in the deal he signed four years ago entitling him to a new contract – but he would need to make seven more starts, not substitute’s appearances, to activate it.

The club has just seven games left this season – and Gutierrez will NOT start every one of them. For his part, Carver has an open mind about the out-of-contract players, though it seems certain that Gutierrez will leave in the summer.

“Listen, everybody’s playing for their future,” he said. “There have been no discussions (about contracts). The discussions have been about the need to bring in players – we know that.

“I haven’t gone into any discussions with regard to this group of players, because we have seven games left.”

Carver, the club’s head coach until the end of the campaign, says his focus has been on the team – and NOT off-the-field matters.

The 50-year-old, however, has had a conversation with managing director Lee Charnley about forward Haris Vuckic, who is on loan at Rangers.

Vuckic this week said he was open about a permanent move to Ibrox.

Asked about the clause in Gutierrez’s deal, Carver said: “I’ve got to be honest, I genuinely don’t know about anybody’s contracts.